Works are underway this week to build an additional nine parklets with gardens and public seating along Commercial Road in Morwell, taking the total to 12 parklets in the Central Business District.
The parklets are a feature of the Morwell CBD revitalisation project to bring more people into the Morwell CBD to support local businesses.
Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester secured $1.75 million toward the project and said he was pleased to see local company ACE Earthmoving had been awarded the contract to undertake civil construction works. “We’ve already seen the first stage completed in front of the Latrobe City Council offices,” Mr Chester said.
“This project is designed to encourage more investment into the Morwell CBD by making the shopping district more attractive.”
Mr Chester said works would be staged in 100 metre increments working clockwise from the council office, towards Legacy place, over the road to Tarwin Street and back along Commercial Road to Hazelwood Road.
It is anticipated each stage will take around six weeks to complete.
The ‘gathering space’ in Tarwin Street will become a multipurpose event space with moveable planter boxes and seating so it can be adapted for community events or changing needs.
Free public Wi-Fi will be extended to all the new areas.
“There will be some disruption to Commercial Road during construction but the end result will be well worth the short term inconvenience,” Mr Chester said.
“This project will bring more green spaces into the Morwell CBD and make the area a welcoming space for shoppers and community members.
It will be a place that locals will be proud to visit and to share with visitors to the region.”
The CBD Revitalisation Project is due for completion by the end of November and will complement other federally funded projects in the area under construction including Morwell Recreation Reserve ($5 million from the Federal Government) and the Morwell-Traralgon Shared Pathway ($1.6 million).
